'So dynamic and delicious,' Okanagan Eats cookbook is here

Joanne Sasvari is stunned asparagus just grows in ditches in the Okanagan.

"Wild asparagus in the ditch, it's wonderful," said the co-author of Okanagan Eats with a laugh.

"And you can forage for porcini mushrooms. And from the farms, the most beautiful tomatoes and produce, from orchards the best peaches and other fruits, and, of course, the wine, the wine."

Sasvari is hyped on the Valley and its exploding food and wine scene because the cookbook she co-authored with Dawn Postnikoff is essentially a love letter.

"It tells the story of the people that make the food and the food that they make," said Sasvari.

"It's an honour to tell these chefs' stories. The Okanagan food and wine scene is so dynamic and delicious."

In all, the 208-page, hardcover, colour and glossy Okanagan Eats cookbook (Figure 1 Publishing, $39) contains 70 recipes from the Okanagan's best chefs, restaurants, cafes, bakeries and wineries.

The cookbook will be released Tuesday and you can buy it wherever you buy books, including Mosaic Books in Kelowna, which is getting a big order of it.

Or, you you can pre-order Okanagan Eats from wherever you buy books

Sasvari and Postnikoff tell the stories of the chefs and restaurants and tweak the recipes for home cook use and the stunning photography is by Kelowna-based Jon Adrian.

"Chefs don't use measuring cups and teaspoons, they cook by feel," said Sasvari with another laugh.

"So we figured out the measuring and tested all these recipes ourselves to make them uncomplicated for the home cook."

Some of the recipes, accompanied by stories and remarkable photos, include seafood fettuccine from 19 Bistro at Fitzpatrick Family Vineyards in Peachland, snap pea bruschetta from Coccaro Group (La Bussola, The Curious Cafe and Gather in Kelowna), mushroom truffle penne from Sparkling Hill Resort in Vernon, apple and brie tart from Backyard Farm in Oliver and a Buddha bowl from Klippers Organics in Cawston.

There's also a raft of other recipes from chefs and restos big and small, fancy and casual from the eateries at big wineries Mission Hill in West Kelowna, CedarCreek in Kelowna and Quails' Gate in West Kelowna; BNA Brewing Co. in Kelowna; and vegetarian Frankie We Salute You in Kelowna to Jojo's Cafe in Osoyoos; Neverland Tea Cottage in Naramata; Sprout Bread in Kelowna; Timber Shuswap in Blind Bay; Small Axe Bistro in Enderby; The Noble Pig in Kamloops; and Wayne & Freda coffeeshop in Penticton.

Besides the nuts and bolts of recipes and cooking, Sasvari and Postnikoff want you to get a feel for the Okanagan, whether you live here or not.

"One thing I've really noticed about the Okanagan is the distinct style of cooking and eating that's all about people sitting down with family and friends and grazing many different dishes with wine," said Sasvari.

"People from BC know the Okanagan and have heard of some of these restaurants and chefs. But we also want attract people who maybe have never been to BC, but are intrigued by the Okanagan's reputation of beauty, food and wine."

Sasvari and Postnikoff, who are both from Victoria, also wrote the Vancouver Eats and Island Eats cookbooks, which are also published by Vancouver-based Figure 1.

Partial proceeds from Okanagan Eats will be donated to the Central Okanagan Food Bank.

Sasvari also penned The Wickaninnish and Paprika cookbooks and Postnikoff is the co-founder of Edible Vancouver Island.